Morgan Carter

Every drink seems ideal when you're at the perfect bar. Your dive’s beer is frosty, rooftops send you soaring toward the clouds and cocktail destinations shake and stir myriad ingredients into ideally calibrated glassware—leaps above what you try to craft at home. The options are unending, the ice is nicer and you aren’t just drinking, you’re at the spot.  Whether you're dabbling in low-ABV libations, making your way through dedicated martini menus or collecting passwords for pseudo speakeasies, there is an ideal location for every taste, tolerance and occasion. Find them among the 50 best bars in NYC right now. Best NYC bars at a glance: For a taste of old New York - The Dead Rabbit - One of New York's best cocktail bars continues to serve up the smoothest pours of Guinness and one of the best Irish Coffees, period. (Financial District) For a boozin' and a bite: Bar Snack - Excellently fun cocktails with snacks like pickled dusted cheese curds and spice bags (Chelsea) For a late-night croon and swoon: Saint Tuesday - A well-hidden bar found several flights underneath the Walker Hotel Tribeca (Tribeca) For Korean snacks, sips n' such: Sunn's – Sunny Lee's banchan-based bar is a welcome find in Chinatown for natty wines and close quarters. (Chinatown) For tiki anytime of year: Sunken Harbor Club - The speakeasy above Gage & Tollner didn't stay secret for long. And how could it? Their range of tiki cocktails makes for some seriously boozy nights. (Downtown Brooklyn) Update

Whether it’s your first or your one-hundredth time in New York, you could do a lot worse than booking a hotel right in the middle of the concrete jungle. Manhattan’s Midtown neighborhood is perfectly placed for sightseeing and exploring all of the shops, bars and world-class restaurants right at your fingertips. You’ll find everything from luxury landmarks  plus more affordable boutiques, and to keep you up to date with all the very best places to stay, we’ve added brand-new reviews of Andaz 5th Avenue and Sofitel New York. Enjoy. Which area is best to stay in New York? Well, we’re obviously gonna make a strong case for Midtown, which is home to a shedload of any first-time visitors’ bucket list attractions. It’s also well connected to both the Upper West and East, Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, and pretty much anywhere else you’d want to go. Have a read of all our guides to all NYC’s neighborhoods, to help you decide.  New York’s best Midtown hotels at a glance: 🌃 Best view: The Shelburne Sonesta  👙 Best pool: The Peninsula New York 👛 Best budget: voco Times Square South New York 💎 Most luxurious: Ritz-Carlton Central Park 🤩 Most iconic: The Knickerbocker 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured

New York City doesn't follow breakfast rules. Pancakes at 3pm? Sure! A full dim sum spread in the middle of the night? Why not! It’s a dining scene that starts early, ends late and, in some cases, never stops. Within a few subway stops, you can grab a classic BEC, a big bowl of congee topped with golden sambal, a baguette spread with butter and radishes and a Malaysian spread of coconut rice that'll make you wonder why you ever settled for drip coffee and a protein bar.  RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in NYC The city's most beloved breakfast spots have long reflected their histories, as families turned morning staples into their neighborhood’s everyday rituals. Find your own favorite way to wake up with this list of the best-of-the-best breakfast spots in NYC, from Northern-Mexican style burritos to a classic bagel sandwich from a counter that’s been slinging lox for more than 100 years.  Updated February 2026: As winter finally loosens its grip, iced coffee season is coming sooner than you think. That means the lines for the city’s most viral spots will be getting longer, too, so grab breakfast at new L.A. import Croft Alley or Cafe Mulberry’s celeb-studded French restaurant before it’s too late. 

In New York City, “underground” is good: think speakeasy-themed bars, hidden streets, secret gardens, you know, the actual underground. But sometimes you want to soar above it all, sipping effervescent libations among the clouds like some kind of fancy bird with an expense account. You want to be uplifted.  In the city that never stops sprawling, upward expansion has also reached great heights. Many incredible eating and drinking destinations are poised in the sky like treehouses with cover charges. Among these NYC rooftop bars are old throwbacks, party destinations and seaside terraces practically fashioned for Instagram. They each offer booze, some kind of view and an invitation for you to get high.  Updated February 2026: I know, we are currently in the thick of winter, historic blizzards and bitingly cold weather included. So perhaps rooftops aren't the first thing on your mind, but we think they should be. Several of New York's best rooftops stay open year-round thanks to a winter transformation of vestibules and state-of-the-art shutters, or simply because a few key players built much of their spatial footprint indoors. Meaning you can get unobstructed views of the city below while still keeping nice and toasty, no matter the season. With that in mind, we updated our list with rooftops you can visit right now. You'll find a fresh review of Nubeluz following a recent visit, and a new entry for UNLISTED in the Lower East Side. Sadly, we removed The Panorama Room, as it h

Halal restaurants were once commonly associated with those food trucks you go to for edible respite from sad office lunches or late-night drunkenness. But fast-forward a few years, and those salt-of-the-earth, go-to carts now have international reach. Breaking beyond the confines of chicken and rice, taquerias, smash burger joints and Thai lounges about town have fully embraced the halal lifestyle. Whether you keep halal or just want to be inclusive of every eater in your party, New York's halal scene certainly delivers.   RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC Updated February 2026: Ramadan Mubarak, New York! In honor of the holy month of Ramadan, we figured it was best to give our halal restaurants a much-needed overhaul. We added Ariana Afghan Kebab, Ayat, Bungalow, Hyderabadi Zaiqa, Little Flower Cafe, Librae Bakery, Tashkent Supermarket, Top Thai and Yafa Cafe. We removed Farook Halal Food, Halal Guys, Istanbul Kebab House, Marrakesh, Pizza & Pita and Sammy’s Halal Cart. 

Whether you’re margherita-loving purist or an all-the-toppings enthusiast, a fan of New York-style, Detroit-style, Neapolitan-style or your own whacky style, everybody’s their definition of a dream pizza. But cities all over the world have put their own spin on the dish, too, and that’s why we called on our international network of editors and writers to share the weirdest, tastiest and most lip-smacking pizzas where they live. So, feast your eyes on Time Out’s freshly-baked roundup of the best pizzas on the planet.  RECOMMENDED:🍝The best cities in the world for food🥪The best sandwiches in the world🥩The best steaks in the world This list was edited by Liv Kelly, Time Out’s travel writer. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Looking for a new spot to watch the big game? Our list of NYC’s best sports bars includes rowdy beer halls, low-key hangs with craft brews, some of NYC’s best dive bars and even a bar dedicated to all things Canadian. Whether you need a weekly place to root for your footie team or just want to drink a few great brews with friends, we’ve rounded up our favorite places to shout at a really big TV. RECOMMENDED: See all of the best bars in NYC February 2026: To prepare for the coming Super Bowl this weekend (or, for some, the Bad Bunny halftime show), we decided to refresh our sports bars list. We added Athena Keke's and The Hairy Lemon. We removed Twist & Smash'd Sports as it closed. We also removed Jack Demsey’s, The Irish Rover and The Black Horse Pub. 

Whether you love it or you’re still deciding which way to swipe, Valentine’s Day raises feelings like heart-shaped mylar balloons escaping to their destiny in the sky. For some, it evokes notions of romantic restaurants and big candy boxes. For others, it inspires a hasty run in the direction of the closest dive bar. In any case, the big day will arrive, and before you know it, reservations will be full up. So book while the booking is good before you're both feeling blue. And remember that old love poem on this, and every culinary holiday, “Roses are red, violets are blue, prices are pre-tax and tip, and spots book quickly, too." RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Valentine’s Day for NYC Updated February 2026: This guide has been updated to reflect this year’s best picks for Valentine’s Day dinners, adding Birds, Cafe Commerce, HAGS, Kiko, Saishin, Kings Co Imperial and Park Rose We removed some restaurants that are fantastic (but sadly already booked), including the Crane Club, Le Jardinier, Le Rock and The Noortwyck  

New York City's brilliant Black community is constantly making this town one of the best places to live, creating incredible spaces for culture and art to flourish and opening expertly crafted restaurants and bars. If you're looking for a way to support Black-owned businesses, these amazing restaurants created, owned and run by Black New Yorkers are an excellent place to start.  Updated February 2026: Periodically, part of my job is to update our best of lists—sushi, pizza, what have you. Inevitably, as I review each list, I will see that a handful of restaurants have closed over the course of the year. But when I approached our best Black-owned restaurants list, I was surprised to learn that out of the 45 restaurants we previously listed, only seven restaurants have closed up shop (Freda's Caribbean & Soul Cuisine, Negril BK, Pig & Butter, Reverence, Seasoned Vegan, Snowdonia and Queen of Sheba) while two are temporarily closed (Ghenet Brooklyn and Sugarcane). Unfortunately, it seems to follow a trend, as Black-owned business owners face a set of different challenges in this industry, starting with less access to capital, coupled with systemic racism and stigma. For Black History Month, I implore you to visit your favorite Black-owned businesses (and often)—share their stories, uplift them, and most importantly, frequent their seats. As part of the update, we added Je T'aime Pattisserie and Hav & Mar. We also removed Angel of Harlem, Brown Butter Craft Bar & Kitchen, Cheryl

New York City Restaurant Week’s winter edition is back! More than 500 restaurants are offering special pre-fixe menus citywide from January 20 to February 12. This year’s price points are $30, $45 and $60 for brunch, lunch and dinner menus on the days of each venue’s choosing. With so many sensational spots and so little time to taste them all, it can be hard to narrow the field. Luckily, we've thumbed through the list and highlighted the top options to snag that reservation. Check out the best places to visit and everything to order during NYC Restaurant Week this winter. Updated February 2026: NYC's Restaurant Week is still going strong, with over 580 restaurants doling out deals. We did the due diligence of thumbing through the entire list (yes, seriously), sorting out the best deals to book this season. Before it closes on February 12, we added some new recommendations, including Four Twenty Five, Le B., and Markette—featuring a grilled prawn that topped the list of the best things we ate in 2025.

Choosing a favorite restaurant in New York City is a joyful task with myriad possibilities depending on the occasion, mood and even the time of year. Your favorite dive, fine dining destination and neighborhood favorite might all occupy top spots on your personal best list in spite of their disparate qualities.  Our list of NYC’s 45 best restaurants is the same, spanning each of those categories and more to comprise a catalogue of all the places we wish we were at right now. They don’t have to be the newest or the most recently reviewed, just places that we’ve been to and want to return to again and again, and that we think that you will, too.  Best NYC restaurants at a glance: For classy Caribbean: Kabawa - At chef Paul Carmichael's tasting counter, you'll find simmering and slow-cooked goat, pepper shrimp and all the vibes (East Village) For an excellent steakhouse: Hawksmoor - Aged steaks, a stunning dining hall and an excellent sticky toffee pudding are the calling cards of this London-born import (Gramercy) For trendy pizza: Mama's Too - A New York slice shop that dabbles in triangle and square slices (Upper East Side and West Village) For dinner party like vibes: Dept of Culture – Chef Ayo Balogun's nightly dinner party includes fiery pepper soup among its Nigerian fare (Bed Stuy) For exciting Mexican: Oxomoco – A fun, wood-fired Mexican spot with creative tacos and standout frozen cocktails (Greenpoint) February 2026: Winter marks a slow season for restauran

New York City has all manner of marvelous Japanese food options, including top-notch ramen spots, excellent izakayas, and fabulous food in food courts. We also have an abundance of sushi options, and narrowing them down can be a happy challenge. Here, we’ve collected our favorite special occasion destinations and more casual spots, all amounting to the best sushi NYC has to offer.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC Updated January 2025: I spent a good majority of the top of this year, ducking in and out of well-worn izakayas and sacred halls dedicated to the art of sushi. We added some of New York's finest to the list (and some of the most expensive), including the two counters found at Williamsburg's Shota Omakase, the two Michelin-starred hinoki counter, Sushi Noz and the three Michelin-starred Sushi Sho. We also added the tried-and-true Blue Ribbon Sushi. We removed Shuko as it closed this month. We also removed Hasaki, Kanoyama and Sasabune NY.

We know it's cold outside. But instead of wallowing, you can pretend you’re vacationing in sunny Sonoma or Tuscany at this makeshift indoor vineyard this month.  That's right, NYC Winter Wine Festival® returns for its 14th year on March 7. Held at 630 Second, the huge festival will gather hundreds of New and Old world selections, including wines from France, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, South Africa, South America, New Zealand and California. Artisans will also be on-site, supplying ticketholders with baked goods, dips and chocolates. VIP ticketholders will have access to a private area supplied with the finest selections, including pours of Champagne Pertois-Moriset Rose Blanc Grand Cru, and gourmet foods such as cheeses and desserts.  NYC Winter Wine Festival® offers an afternoon (1-4pm) and an evening session (5-8pm). There's also an express, two-hour tasting from 2-4pm or 6-8pm. Tickets start at $55 for an express tasting; $65 for the grand tasting and $128 for the VIP session. Reserve yours here. 

Tribeca's Muku has already achieved quite a milestone, and it hasn't even hit the six-month mark. In fact, two months after it opened, the tasting counter received a star from the Michelin Guide, the fastest awardee in NYC on record. And it is all due to chef Manabu Asanuma's personal approach to kaiseki cuisine.   The vibe: Tucked next to sister restaurants L’Abeille and L’Abeille a Côte, Muku operates in the former Sushi Ichimura space. If you used to frequent the sushi counter, you may recognize that little has changed, minus the addition of another gorgeous golden mural—this one dating back to the 17th century. It's a beautiful, serene scene, framed by tsuchikabe walls and a handsome, 10-seat counter. The vibe at the seemingly formal restaurant is convivial: I quickly made nice with repeat visitors who were more than giddy to rattle off favorite dishes from their last meal.  The food: Over 10 courses, Asanuma takes diners through kaiseki and its five signifying elements: raw, grilled, simmered, steamed and fried. Dishes rotate quite frequently, but a recent visit yielded raw preparations of mackerel and snapper, grilled rockfish in a sticky-sweet white miso marinade and king crab, whose claws and legs Asanuma personally seared over an intimidating grill at the counter. We can only hope that Asanuma's soba noodles have some permanence, as the toothy, woodsy noodles are made with grains sourced from his family's farm in Yamagata Prefecture. The add-ons were just as good, in

Walking through the door of the Greenpoint restaurant, it’s clear you’re in for a show. Take your seat at the slick marble countertop, facing the grand blue curtain that conceals the performers (in this case, chefs) murmuring just behind it. Then, it’s showtime: the music stops, the lights dim and the curtain pulls back to reveal a line of chefs in crisp white coats, standing shoulder-to-shoulder alongside executive chef and owner Yuu Shimano. The chef teases the Japanese-French cuisine you’re about to experience, claps his hands, and everyone takes their places.  It’s live theater of sorts, with chefs scoring proteins and presenting showstopping dishes: king crab under a wreath of impossibly thin vegetables and dill flowers and a slice of pillowy broiche topped with a mound of caviar. The pièce de résistance comes to the stage early: the famous dry-aged duck pie. Served since the restaurant’s inception, the star dish is layered with ground duck leg and foie gras and enveloped in pastry dough. It’s presented to the audience, still uncooked, only to make its grand return at the finale, burnished and golden brown. It’s savory and rich, served with a ladle of peppery cognac sauce. Course foreshadowing happens throughout the meal, but the results don’t always land. Take the live lobster brought to the counter, bound in anticipation of tomorrow's service, we were assured. It’s introduced as part of the salad course while Shimano dismantles another crustacean, whipping its head jui

My first thought upon arriving at Nubeluz wasn't about the striking jewel tones, the glitzy golden accents, or even the aromatic “cloud cocktails” floating about. Instead, what came to mind upon entering was, "Wow, the window cleaner here deserves a raise." Perched on the 50th floor of The Ritz-Carlton New York–Nomad, Nubeluz’s floor-to-ceiling windows certainly do their job, giving crystal clear, 270-degree views of the southern tip of Manhattan. The bar sits like a crown jewel, looking down on its subjects, with greenish-blue velvet walls and blushing pink booths that curve, making for easy canoodling and cocktailing. Yet the best seats are the mirrored two-tops edged against the glass with sights so high, it may just make you lightheaded to look down. The food certainly leans into the grandness of it all. Oysters? Creamy as ever, hidden under pickled foams and served on a platter of dry ice. Sandwiches? You’ll find the tea kind with grilled cheese and truffle butter for dipping. And caviar? Bumps of pearls are a currency here, appearing on tacos—like the José Andrés' version with thin slices of jamón Iberico with gold leaf—and on fists. Drinks follow in step as servers are quick to waft clouds of aromatic air in your face before you really know what's happening, leaving a buzz of melon around you and in the glass before you. Yes, the venture can lean more show than substance, such as with a $44 Maker's Mark cocktail that drinks like a regular Manhattan and the overall supe

As ICE operations continue to crack down on immigrant communities in Minnesota, organizers across the country are coming together to help. New York is no different, as several businesses across the city participated in last month's nationwide protest, pausing service and raising funds for immigration reform and community building. In an added show of solidarity, several of Brooklyn's best bars and restaurants are continuing the work with a fundraiser all their own.  On Thursday, February 26th, RAD Restaurants and Gertie will be hosting ICE Belongs in Cups, a walk-around tasting to benefit mutual aid work in Minnesota. Several Brooklyn restaurants will be providing cocktails and bites for the cause, including the Bearded Lady, gertrude's, Pies n Thighs, Ursula and Whoopsie Daisy. All ticket sales will go toward a mutual aid operation spearheaded by Walker Bachman, a former Gertie employee. Made by hospitality workers, for hospitality workers, Bachman and his community in Minneapolis will be coordinating care boxes, buying, packing and delivering food, toiletries, and other essential goods to hospitality workers who no longer feel safe in their neighborhood.  Tickets are $100 per person and $25 for children. For those who cannot attend but still want to help, guests can purchase a donation ticket for $50. Buy your tickets here. 

The Food Education Fund (FEF) is a New York-based nonprofit that provides high school students from low-income backgrounds with the tools to succeed in the hospitality industry. Last year, FEF served more than 1,000 NYC students, providing classroom learning, hands-on experience and mentorship opportunities. This spring, the nonprofit is hosting its annual gala to raise funds for its mission-driven work, and several of New York's top restaurants are joining the effort. On March 18, the Food Education Fund is hosting The NYC Dine Around, presented by Food Education Fund. Held at Williamsburg's Skylight at The Refinery, the gala will gather some of the area's top chefs for an evening of delectable (and unlimited!) bites and drinks. Participating restaurants include Atoboy, Bonnie's, Crown Shy, Fan-Fan Donuts, K'Far, Lilia and Union Square Cafe. VIP ticketholders will have access to exclusive VIP tasting tables with Shukette, Laser Wolf and Theodora, plus cocktails from Please Don't Tell. General admission tickets are $250 per person; VIP tickets are $500. Reserve your ticket here. 

While it no longer holds the title of the tallest building in Peru (the Torre Banco de la Nación took the top spot when it was erected in 2015), The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center is still a sparkling sight on Lima's skyline, climbing 30 stories high. Indicated by the name, the glass and steel skyscraper is attached to the convention center, making for an easy stay for the business class. However, The Westin Lima Hotel’s spa-like amenities and prime access to culture and outdoor adventures provide an opportunity for travelers of any kind, even if you didn’t pack a tie.  Why stay at The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center With its prime location in the financial district of Peru, The Westin Lima is well-suited for high-end business travel. Particularly because the hotel is attached to one of Peru’s largest convention centers, easily accessible from the hotel’s 3rd and 4th floors. And the hotel is sure to please the corporate card carriers among us as the soaring entryway leads to a marbled lobby decorated with murals from Peruvian artist Edwin “Pésimo” Higuchi Fernández. The hotel houses a lobby bar and two restaurants, ready-made to fuel you up for a meeting-heavy day ahead or to unwind with colleagues over a day well done. And there is even a speakeasy that makes for an easy escape without leaving the building. What are the rooms like at The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center? The Westin Lima Hotel is home to 301 guest rooms and suites. Seemingly matching its tar

Hyderabadi Zaiqa’s footprint isn’t that much bigger than a hallway; its basement slip of space fits three low tables, a handful of red metal stools and is missing an ordering counter. And yet, this Hell’s Kitchen hideaway serves some of the best Indian food in town. We aren’t alone in this assertion, as the little restaurant that could has received praise from The New York Times, The Michelin Guide and has most recently become a meeting space for our latest mayor. It is due to the work of Mohammad Tarique Khan and Jayesh Naik, who have taken on the mighty task of sharing Hyderabad’s culinary history, peppering in dishes from the northern and southern sides of India. And they have done so extremely well with flaky, palm-sized samosas and tender chunks of chicken (or cauliflower) tossed in a shockingly-red sauce that blooms with sniffle-inducing heat. But their calling card lies with their biryanis, 15 of which feature on the menu. The Hyderabadi goat dum biryani is the most popular for a reason, as bones laced with tender meat and gelatinous, chewy fat sit like swollen humps underneath mounds of saffron and turmeric-tinged rice. The Hyderabadi goongura chicken biryani is a second favorite, whose chicken thighs easily soak up all the slightly sour, herbally and fiery notes, requiring good usage of the free raita or bright mint chutney to get you through. And before you request a knife, look around and you’ll soon see curry-coated fingertips, tossing and scooping bits of rice, g

Kent Zhang became a vegetarian years ago to align with his Buddhist religion. But following a no-meat lifestyle in New York in the '90s certainly proved difficult if not flavorless. He opened his own vegetarian Cantonese restaurant in Flushing in 1999, before relocating to Chinatown in 2004, where it remains today. And even though the banner that hangs outside still touts vegetarianism, all of the offerings here are actually vegan.  Inside, you'll find a no-frills but efficient operation, where you'll be seated in no time (busy nights will still get you a table in around 20 minutes). Once butts are in chairs, servers will quickly drop pots of tea that are just hot enough not to scald you and a handful of plastic-wrapped and paper menus that cycle through 200 different selections. Don't go dizzy just yet. Start by ticking off a few dim sum selections, such as the rice rolls with chopped bits of faux ham and the gluten-free fried taro dumplings with excellent lacy bits on the outside and a chewy, light bite on the inside. The soy nuggets swap in the sesame veg chicken and kung pao are a nice, hearty dupe, too, and the noodles are an easy fix. But a must-order goes to the sweet and sour sticky ribs, which Zhang lovingly recreated from his mother's kitchen. 

Park Rose is certainly an establishment that's perpetually in bloom. The ground-floor restaurant inside Hotel Park Ave, NY, speaks only in the language of spring, with cascading greens spinning from the ceiling and rosy-pink velvet booths and chairs stamped with more florals. It will certainly keep your date blushing with a wheeled cart that pours house-made vermouth tableside; you can drink it on the rocks or have it fashioned into a spritz. As for food, the menu cycles through Italian offerings that do little to challenge the genre, with nicely salted scallops served with a swipe of celery root and roasted peppers that are jammy-sweet but look a little like deflated balloons, with an odd, melted pool of stracciatella on top. There are certainly more thorns to sort out, including thin-crust pizzas that eat like run-of-the-mill flatbreads and an ndjua pasta that's billed as spicy but screams of a whole lot of paprika and not much else. The saving grace is a tiramisu that does its job (chocolatey with airy mascarpone) and the fact that the London import Seed Library is just a staircase away in the basement. But that isn't to say that Park Rose doesn't have its place in the garden, as a fun summertime tableside spritz with the girls is certainly an option. 

Little sister to Han Dynasty, Spicy Moon also spins up fiery Szechuan cuisine—steamed dumplings, fried rice and chili-slicked noodles. The kicker? The food here is all vegan, baby. From pint-sized beginnings in the East Village, the little vegan restaurant that could now has quite an impressive reach, with four total locations in Manhattan and a partnership with Goldbelly, so you can get their dan dan kits delivered to your door. But if you live in NYC, we say make a trip to the neon-wonderland that is the Bowery location. Clocking in at 11,000 square feet, the massive outpost could easily moonlight as a nightclub if it wanted to—and it kind of does, with a purplish pink-tinted dining hall that hosts DJs and drag queens. But food and drink remain the focus, as half of the restaurant functions as a brewhouse with massive copper tanks that brew a variety of gluten-free beers. Meanwhile, tables pile high with dumplings that swim in a fiery chile oil with bits of vegan chili crisp, crabless rangoons and peanutty dan dan noodles that have that good spring to them. Groups should add a shareable big bite to the table—we prefer the salt-and-pepper style with golden-fried veggies and tofu. But for a little nod to NYC, the spring rolls that spill out with a faux chopped cheese are never a bad idea.

Ryan Chetiyawardana, a.k.a. Mr. Lyan, is a bit of a legend in the bartending world, winning multitudes of awards for his approach to the no-waste cocktail movement (his former bar in London didn't even use ice) and even praise for his hot take on microwaved Manhattans. He made his stateside debut in D.C. some years ago and, last fall, expanded with a second location of his London bar in midtown Manhattan, where word of Mr. Lyan's koji-fermented and snail-brine tipples is spreading fast.  NY's Seed Library is nearly identical to its London counterpart, down to the name and hotel location—this time inside the basement of the Hotel Park Ave. The interior damn near mirrors the incredibly swanky 1960s lounge stylings of its former, with rust colored corners and a soundtrack supplied by vinyl. But New Yorkers have embraced it all the same, as signatures include a highly drinkable, unfiltered martini that leans on the humble potato for a sweet, almost coconutty-like finish, and an incredibly fun update on a whiskey sour known as the koji hardshake with savory miso that drinks smooth with the addition of cream, sugar and an egg white. The toasted marshmallow that sticks right out of the glass adds a waft of sweetness with each sip. It is easy to get cerebral here, with willing bartenders who are more than ready to share how enzymes from a sheep's pancreas factor into the grape-forward shepherd's delight cocktail, or why a touch of snail was the needed balance for a blackberry and le

Sculptors have clay. Painters have paint. Alejandra Villanueva and Brian Carroll have cotton candy. But they aren't just swirling up clouds of the pink stuff and calling it a day. Their fluffy creations are certainly eye-catching, spinning the likes of SpongeBob Squarepants, Bluey and famous Pokémon characters. “We love cotton candy because it’s nostalgic, magical and fun—it’s also a really interesting artistic medium,” said Carroll.  Villanueva and Carroll are the founders of Fluffy Algodón, a Colombian-born confectionery known for whimsical cotton-candy animals and cartoon character creations. And it all started because of a simple love of sweets. While working as an architect, Villanueva started selling cotton candy as a weekend project. But as her cutesy unicorn and pig designs gained a following and she officially founded Fluffy Algodón in 2019. Alongside Carroll, the two brought their sweets to New York in 2021, working the street fair circuit and private parties. Brands soon caught whiff of their magical creations, and now the confectionery has been attached to Sephora, Netflix and Hello Kitty. Ever the creatives, the makers of Fluffy Algodón have been quick to tap into cultural trends, whipping up New York’s unofficial mascot, Pizza Rat, and even recreating a pint-sized Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl.  Photograph: Courtesy of Fluffy Algodón| Bad Bunny cotton candy from Fluffy Algodón “Some of our most intricate sculptures take the longest to perfect,” said Carroll, ci

Tribeca’s Muku is a story still unfolding. But by the city’s standards, it’s already become a page-turner: the tasting counter received its first star from Michelin after only being in service for two months—the fastest on record for NYC. While I clearly don't work for the tire man myself, I can only assume it's because chef Manabu Asanuma's take on kaiseki seems effortless, moving seamlessly across techniques with confidence. Photograph: Courtesy of Nobuyuki Narita| Interior of Muku Muku is located inside the former omakase hall at Sushi Ichimura, and not much has changed about the wooden counter—except for the addition of an impressive golden mural dating back to the 17th century. Asanuma, who previously worked at Sushi Ichimura, seems right at home as head chef Muku, executing the five techniques that define kaiseki: raw, grilled, simmered, steamed and fried. Grilling is certainly Asanuma's strong suit: rockfish's white miso marinade intensifies into a sticky sweetness with the touch of the flame. While the vinegar-aged king crab is seared over an intimidating grill, simmering with red-hot coals. It all comes together for a cold soup, a dish that is perhaps one of the better ones I've had thus far in 2026—a sweet salinity from the crustacean, a lightly bitter earthiness from the asparagus, a zip of tartness from the jelly, all rounded out by a smooth, cured egg yolk that sits at the bottom.  Photograph: Morgan Carter| Soba course with duck broth for dipping Asanuma's b

When Tiffany Dockery sought to open a business in her neighborhood of Bed-Stuy, her approach was threefold: create a community for Black individuals (relevant given the shrinking population of the historically Black neighborhood), offer a third space for the queer community, particularly lesbians, and center it around her favorite medium: books. It seems she has done exactly that at Gladys Books & Wine.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gladys Books & Wine (@gladysbooksbk) Operating August of last year, the bi-level bookstore and wine bar has already hosted countless literary panels and reading nights next to trans spades nights and burlesque revues. It all ladders up to Gladys' core mission: centering Black queer stories and fostering community connections. And to celebrate its first Black History Month in business, Dockery released her theme for the month: Loving Blackness as Political Resistance. All February long, the bookstore will be hosting events surrounding Black love, to which Dockery says is the power that "always sustained us." Check out her list of recommended reads below. RECOMMENDED: Brooklyn Public Library just dropped a powerful new immigration-themed reading list The Way Love Goes: A Guide to Building a "Beaurtiful" and Everlasting Relationship by Da Brat & Judy “Perfect for couples seeking practical wisdom and inspiration. This guide offers honest, heartfelt advice on building lasting partnership from two women who've navigate

UPDATE: For our current list of chefs at Time Out Market New York, Union Square, reference our regularly updated feature on the Market's offerings. See you soon! It is official—Time Out Market New York, Union Square is now open!   That’s right, our latest Market is open and ready for business as of today. Inside the 20,000-square-foot space, you’ll find kitchens staffed by established names and up-and-coming talented chefs from across New York City, a selection of to-go goods and coffees and a curated line up of cocktails, wine and beer. Our latest market hall plans to follow in the footsteps of our sister market hall, Time Out Market New York, Dumbo. And that is to bring you the best of New York under one roof. Here’s what to expect at Time Out Market New York, Union Square. Who is cooking at Time Out Market New York, Union Square? From award-winning chefs to some of our beloved local favorites, the latest market hall has a little bit of everything to satisfy your cravings. Nosh on Jamaican patties from Patty Palace courtesy of Kwame Onwuachi; chargrilled kebabs and chicken biryani from James Beard Award winner Chintan Pandya of Kebabwala; suadero, al pastor and more Michelin-recommended tacos from Chris Reyes and Gerardo Alcaraz of Taqueria El Chato; burgers, fries and Sichuan-spiced mushrooms from the talented Sam Braverman of Lori Jayne; Neo-Neapolitan pizza and sandwiches from Michael Ayoub of Fornino; delectable Thai from award-winning pitmaster and chef Dhanapol "Oak"

Always thinking about food? Yeah, us too. But worry not, Time Out Market New York, Union Square, is here to feed you. The Manhattan market has a handful of vendors, backed by award-winning talent, ready to nourish you day and night with smashed burgers, stellar sandwiches and all the crab fried rice you can handle. Thirsty? We have that handled, too. All you have to do is saunter up to the 360-degree bar for crafted cocktails, wine and even beer inspired by the Market. But to truly make it a meal, we've made some recommendations to pair your next meal with a drink that matches. Photograph: Courtesy of Melissa Hom| Wagyu kebab at Kebabwala Borough Buck with the Prime NY Strip Beef Bihari from Kebabwala It would be relatively uncommon to find Wagyu at a roadside kebab stand in India. But lucky for us, Wagyu is a common occurrence at chef Chintan Pandya’s kebab stand in the Market. Here at Kebabwala, marinated hunks of beef hit the grill, cozied next to skewered slices of onions and red peppers. Wonderfully charred, the kebabs are then finished with a fiery and aromatic dusting of red chili, cumin and dried mango powder. For us, we think it is more flavor than fire. But if you need a little help to cull the heat, the Borough Buck ($15) will certainly be up to the task. The vodka mule with pomegranate and lime juices plus a bit of fizz from the ginger beer will surely keep you cool, thanks to a combo of mint syrup plus fresh sprigs of the stuff. Photograph courtesy of Time Ou

If Sean Williams had to ballpark it, he would guess that he's owned over 4,000 sneakers in his lifetime. However, Williams is so much more than a sneaker enthusiast. Working in the field for 20 years, Williams is behind a lot of firsts for the industry, including founding the inaugural sneaker podcast, Obsessive Sneaker Disorder, launching America’s first sneaker and culture academy, SOLEcial Studies Community Academy and—most recently—creating Time Out Market New York, Dumbo's first-ever merch shop, Time Out Swag. We caught up with the sneakerhead to learn about his addiction to shoes, when his love for kicks first started, how he knew it could be a business and what kind of specialty swag he is selling at the Market. You fell in love with sneakers when you were 13. What was it about the sneaker industry that drew you in?  I've always seen sneakers as a story in every box. Storytelling has always been my north star for a lot of things in my life. Over the years, as my relationship switched from consumer to industry professional, I became even more enamored with the stories and the business side of sneakers. Do you remember your first pair? I was 13 years old in 1984 when I begged [my mom] for them. It was a pair of sneakers from Puma, the model is called the Basket. So basically, my late mother is the enabler for my 40-year-long love affair with sneakers. When did you know that you could make this a career?  It took a long time for me to actually begin working in the indust

Whether you think it is the most romantic day of the year or a full-on capitalistic cash grab, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner—and there's no escaping it. If you happen to have a sweetie, we recommend getting a plan together ASAP so you aren’t left with a heart-shaped box of chocolates pulled straight out of the discount bin. RECOMMENDED: The 15 most romantic restaurants in NYC But before you think you have to drop hundreds of dollars on dinner and sparkles, there are more ways to celebrate V-Day. Feeling the love this season, Time Out Market New York, Brooklyn, is hosting a ton of events for sweethearts from candlelit dinners to dance parties to spice up the night. Not coupled up this year? We've got a little something for every relationship status, singles dance party and a voodoo-making workshop included. Curious? Here are five ways to celebrate Valentine's Day at Time Out Market. Photograph: Courtesy Hugo Neves| Pre-Valentine's Day Party Keeping it casual? This pre-Valentine’s Day party is for situationships and sidepieces. Single? Situationship? Sneaky link? We’ve got the party for you. Kicking off Valentine’s Day weekend on February 13, the market is hosting a little dance party for all the lovers. DJ Price Is Right will be setting the tone for a night of fun and flirting, with R&B slow burns, hip-hop party classics and afrobeats. And, if you need a break from the dance floor, we've got a lineup of signature cocktails just for the party.  Admission is free;

A flagship of Union Square since 1976 is the Union Square Greenmarket. Spread across the north and west sides of the park, the open-air market brings together over 140 vendors throughout the week, and has become a hub for New Yorkers to find fresh fruits and vegetables, heritage meats and award-winning cheese, all in one loop. Naturally, the direct connection to some of New York's greatest farmers makes it a hotspot for top chefs, including those who cook at our very own Time Out Market New York, Union Square, just across the street. Which is why this iconic produce destination was the perfect place to host our latest series: The Greenmarket Challenge. The Greenmarket Challenge is officially on! Each month, Time Out will head to the year-round market in search of unique ingredients. We will then deliver the goods to one of our talented chefs at Time Out Market New York, Union Square, who will be given one hour to create a one-of-a-kind dish. If it passes the taste test, the mystery dish will be prepared for everyone to enjoy. First up is our very own chef Dhanapol "Oak" Marprasert of Kam Rai Thai. We challenged chef Oak with four unique ingredients: bok choy from Halal Pasture Farms, shiitake mushrooms sourced from Bulich Mushroom Farm, meadow foam honey from Andrew’s Honey, and a real twist: honey mustard and onion pretzel bits from Union Square Pretzel Co.  But naturally, chef Oak took it like a pro. Taking it back to his home cooking roots, chef Oak whipped up a shrimp an

Today, Friday, January 30, activists are calling for a nationwide shutdown against immigration enforcement and ICE.   Following aggressive ICE-enforcement tactics in Minnesota, organizers are advocating for a day of “no work, no school, and no shopping," specifically protesting against the Trump administration and its immigration crackdown. The blackout follows a string of deaths connected to ICE across the nation, including those of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota, Keith Porter in Los Angeles, Silverio Villegas González in Chicago and Geraldo Lunas Campos in Texas. RECOMMENDED: How to protest safely in NYC Businesses around New York are getting involved, with several restaurants participating in the strike by completely closing down business for the day. Eateries who cannot afford to shut down for the day are donating a portion of their profits to a variety of causes, including immigration reform and community building. Here is a list of participating businesses: Businesses that are closed: Athena Keke's: The business will be closed on Friday. A portion of sales for the rest of the week will go to New York Immigration Coalition.  Bar Snack: The business will be closed on Friday. Carnitas Ramirez: The business will be closed on Friday. Dolly's Coffee Shop:  The business will be closed on Friday. Fan Fan Doughnuts: The business will be closed on Friday.  Forsyth Fire Escape: The business will be closed on Friday. Ha's Snack Bar: The business will be closed on Fri

When Jason Harvey was in his twenties, he followed the path that most Kiwis do and bought a one-way ticket to Europe. To keep traveling across the country, he started selling ice at music festivals with a friend, but he knew it wasn’t quite working. At the same time, he gleaned that a neighboring stand at the festival was selling “terrible coffee” but “making a bunch of money.” It was all the motivation he needed to give the coffee business a go. Today, Harvey serves as the founder and chief executive of Common Coffee, a Scottish-born roastery that's rooted in the community around coffee. The segue into coffee wasn’t too far of a stretch for Harvey. Working as an outdoor instructor in his hometown of Auckland, New Zealand, his routine would start with beans, a percolator and brewed cups of the stuff, most of which he would prepare daily for colleagues. Back then, it was less about the taste and more about the communal ritual. “I thought I did it because I liked coffee. But really, what I did it for is the conversation that happened at the start of the day,” he says.  At the recommendation of a friend, Harvey moved to Scotland to begin building out his coffee business. There, he came across Jock, a jack-of-all-trades who owned a farm with an old coffee roaster. Harvey decided to cold-call Jock after his London coffee pop-up failed to discuss refurbishing his roaster and starting a business out of his workshop. Jock said yes and Common Coffee was born in 2018 with the purpose o

Roberto Santibañez doesn’t remember a time when he wasn’t in the kitchen. He grew up with a family that loved to cook, including a grandmother who regularly taught classes to fellow neighbors. By the time he was eight, he was regularly in charge of breakfast for his sisters.  “When I grew up, I never wanted to do anything else,” he shared.  The culinary world is all the better for it. Santibañez has authored several cookbooks—including the James Beard Award-nominated “Rosa's New Mexican Table" and “Truly Mexican”—and cooked in kitchens across France, Mexico City and at Austin’s famed restaurant, Fonda San Miguel. During his tenure at Rosa Mexicano, he introduced New Yorkers to regional Mexican cuisine.  “We did a lot of things that the city had really never seen,” he said, recalling standout dishes like the 24-ingredient mole negro, guacamole with Oaxacan pasilla peppers and Zarape de Pato—the duck dish that made him famous. “Once a Mexican friend came and said, ‘This really tastes like you are in an indigenous person’s house up in the mountains.’ And I said, ‘That's the point.’” In 2009, he continued telling the story of contemporary Mexican food on his own terms with the opening of Fonda—first in New York (Park Slope, Chelsea and Tribeca), and now in Nashville and even Tokyo. Today, more of his cooking returns to NYC with the opening of Tacos Fonda. On January 23, Tacos Fonda will open its doors at Time Out Market New York, Union Square, with a selection of classics. Tacos

Today, the James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists for their time-honored awards, the James Beard Awards. Established in 1990, the James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards come together to “recognize exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media and broader food system.” The official list of nominees will be released on March 31 and the winners will be crowned at an official ceremony on June 15. Given the expansive reach of our culinary scene, New York gets its own category when it comes to best chef. Semifinalists for Best Chef: New York State include Fariyal Abdullahi of Hav & Mar; Christophe Bellanca of Essential by Christophe; Sadie Mae Burns and Anthony Ha of Ha's Snack Bar (who ranked on our best restaurants list of 2025); Fidel Caballero of Corima; Giovanni Cervantes of Carnitas Ramirez; Aretah Ettarh of Gramercy Tavern; Efrén Hernández of Casa Susanna in Leeds, New York; Corwin Kave of Deer Mountain Inn in Tannersville, New York; Vikas Khanna of Bungalow; Hooni Kim of Meju; Yvan Lemoine of Tourmaline; Nate Limwong of Chalong; Cheng Lin of Shōta Omakase; Buddha Lo of Huso; Angie Mar of Le B; Ayesha Nurdjaja of Shukette; Joshua Pinsky of Claud; Mads Refslund of Ilis; Rafiq Salim of Rolo's; and Stefano Secchi of Rezdôra. Two chefs from New Jersey were recognized for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (which spans Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington D.C.): Russ Cowan of Radin's Delicatessen and Dav